New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-04-25
A TALK WITH GENERAL ROSSER.
HE SAYS THE SOLID SOUTH is BRoKEN-oPISIoNs
ON RAILROAD QUESTIONS.


on RAILROAD QUESTIONS.
WASHINGTON April "a (speeiab Among the visitors
whom business brought Washington the present week
was General Thomas L. Rosser He isa native OF VIZ
ginia who was graduated at West Point ana VINO won
distinction as dashng cavalry leader IN the Conieoer
ate service After the General Rosser turned his lace
10 the Northwest where he became one OF the cohsruc
tion engineers of the Northern Pacific Railroad He Is
now citizen of Minnesota, but usually spends inc
winter months in Virginia During the past winter he
has been busy with project for new railroad line from
Charleston through the Caroinas, virginia anu "es'
Virginia with outlet TO Cincinnati ana chicago o'ei
lines already built General Rosser an ardent Demo
Graf and expects to leave his party but ne Is p ho
means happy on account of the present outlook
"what is prospect for next year in Virginia Norm
Carolina and Tennessee r. he was asked
"Ido not know so much about Tennessee. hut as to
Virginia and North Carolina am frank to say that they
are lost to u.s. They will be surely Republican In inc
next Presidential contest"
"To what do you attribute the change in political sell
timent ?"
variety of circumstances The people arc thorough
" dissatisfied with the work Of the last Dehocr"c
House of Representatives They expected 10 SEQ 'he
tariff revised the tobacco tax removed, the Educato
bill passed and distribution OF some OF the surplus io
internal improvements. They were disappointed IN
everything They got tariff revision no repe vi INC
tobacco tax and no aid the public schools ana wheh
Congress managed to squeeze ont little River ana hr
Dor bill 80 as give them few pickngs down there, '
President killed it with pocket veto That's the s,ory
in a nutshell We have lost Virginia ana NORM Caroih''
the Solid South is broken and probably 1t VIII never
be solid again.
"How about the tariff in the South Y
There is no doubt of growth OF the protection sen
timent in Virginia, North Carolina South Caron' IGN
nessee and Alabama, and perhaps in Georgia ana
Louisiana also The stimulation of manufacturing inter-
csts fosters and stimulates protection doctrines
yberet he
be making great gains y
swell there is pretty strong frce-trade sentiment
there It was because Of that fact that we were able 10
elect three Democratic Congressman from Minnesota last
fall"
Iow them do you regard the prospect as to the next
Presidential contest T.
ave are already beaten There is no prospect at All
that We can win In the next contest Two more OF our
Southern States will surely be Republican, ana WIN tue
labor developments of the past year 1t Is easy 10 see ~
we cannot carry NewYork That of course defeats u.s.
"Who In your opinion will be the Democratic cahoi-
date 7"
"That is pretty hard to say don't see how we can
asl tbe neople TO support again man who promised
when candidate the last that he would not ask or
accept second term. really don't see how Mr. CieYe
land is to the candidate. As to Governor Ill., doup
whether be would be available Presidential tlmner
am ot loss TO see where leader Is to come from
You are a Pacific Railroad man. General. What 40
YOU think of the report that the Union Pacific Is going 10
surrender its main line from Omaha 10 ogueh W s"u9i'
the claim of the United States T. .,, 4.
q shouldn't be surprised If il were true II looks 10
me like pretty reasonable story and II would DC
sbarp business turn the part OF the Union iaclc co
pany The line is fair equivalent for the debi nut tc
company could make through line by uniting us
branch lines more cheapy than II cond pay us ucp'
the Government" a., .,, Ian,
What would be the general effect on the through Dusi-
ness and the Government interest i'll the road -,
~ do not that any particular harm would DC ooe
TO ANYBODY OF COURSE the Government wOul sen tIc
road il wouldn't 90 into the railway business sonebo
would buy IL: the Government would be reiinouIssai
Whoever bought road of course would run IT, Ior
the tremendous system of railways centring AT Omaha
this line always will be a valuable and important one
| How do you regard the Interstate Commerce law
"It is great mistake. The events OF the past i0ftSi'
since ii went into operation prove that The Coiiils
soners have by their course that they see 700
they have virtually repealed the most important feature
OF the law-thc long and short haul provision IL woId
have brought disaster not only to railroads mn 10 ps
generally and the Commissioners were wise
| TO see it, The member Of the Commission VINO NouIu
have the nerve the failure injustice ana ul
| consttuonaity the law and resign his Once Woulu
he i'm fair way make himself President or the omte1
States The next Congress probably VIII nave 70 REPEAL
the long and short haul provision The rest OF me
NAV be all right II is well enough 10 have some law 70
prevent pooling for II is by pools and avoidance on
competition that railroads get the advantage Oh e
people SO long there Is free competition he t.n
portation question going to regulate itself as 10 rates